My husband had diverticulitis a few times and then was immediately scheduled for a colonectomy: the removal of 15 inches of the colon and "fashioning" a new one out of the lower intestines. It was a VERY difficult procedure as surgeon couldn't get the stapler to function at the necessary angle. So, they had to switch from laparoscopic and just cut him open.

So, my recommendation is to do the fiber with water thing. You want to flush out those pockets that may have infected or fecal matter trapped inside. Supposedly, things like seeds or nuts aren't a problem, but my husband suffered so much pain that he even followed what is considered an old wives tale and avoided those types of things. I think that was excessive, but I also wasn't the one with pain.

He is doing very well 15 years post op. We take chewables or capsules when we go on vacations. It seems like those are more to keep you regular.

Please, do what you can to prevent diverticulitis! Two bouts of that and you are destined for the surgeon's table. They worry about ruptures.

... and was in the hospital for four days. My GI doctor said that it was not necessary to avoid the seeds as that was more of an older way of treating. I had used Metamucil for years to avoid constipation.

My diet now is full of fresh fruits and vegetables plus half my weight daily in water intake. That is enough to keep everything moving properly, and I am doing well three years later. I had heard horror stories so didn’t want that to happen to me.

I have had just one bout of diverticulitis and want to avoid another. I have two friends that have helped me with fiber supplement ideas. Friend #1 who had surgery just like Connieg's hubby, uses the Citrucel capsules with lots of water. Friend #2 recommended the orange Metamucel individual packets which you pour into a bottle of one of those Bai antioxidant drinks. (only 5 calories, no artificial sweeteners, 1 gram of sugar and a healthy choice.) Shake it up and drink!! This only works with the Coconut or Mandarin Orange flavors. I'm telling you it is delicious!! I've tried drinking the Bai without the Metamucel and it's not nearly as good. Friend #2 calls it her afternoon cocktail. The Bai drinks can be pricey, but they go on sale in the grocery stores and you can also get them at Amazon. I'm trying to up my veggies and fruit. Watermelon works great and is so refreshing this time of the year!!

I use konsyl but you will not like it as it needs to be mixed with water. I also use a small amount of OJ. It does not have any artificial stuff or sweeteners so I like that it is natural. You could buy psyllium at health food store and it is the same thing. I used to suffer with IBS and konsyl was like a miracle for me.

Renea, you asked what kind of chewables we take. Truely, we just look for any fiber supplement. Some are pretty expensive for such a common filler, so I look for cheap. Keeping oneself regular on a vacation is a challenge for young and old.

With my husband, I remind him that he needs to look at his new organ as a remodel, not new piping.

My diagnosis for diverticulosis was in November 2015. I致e been having slight issues the past few days and today have abdominal pressure and I知 worried I might end up back in the hospital. My diet has been over half my body weight every day, freshfruits and vegetables, fresh fish, etc. don稚 know what happened. Would appreciate any prayers. Waiting till tomorrow. Sorry about jumping the post.

Praying for you as I write. The interesting thing about diverticulosis/itis is that a "healthy fruit/vegetable and heavy fiber diet can be just what you don't need IF you are experiencing an active infection or irritation.

There is a delicate balance if this is the issue. All that great fiber acts to irritate rather than help when your system is irritated or infected.

I think a call to your doctor is in order. Until then, go easy on those healthy items. Maybe just herbal tea and toast and crackers to calm the inflammation?

I知 still waiting to hear back from the actual doctor after calling early this morning. We値l see what happens. Only time will tell. Meanwhile I知 taking it easy. Just was getting worried. Hopefully it will just pass over.

Poor kidsrterrific is stressed. I think she meant what I’ve read many times is a recommendation—drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day. So if you weighed 100 pounds, you’d want to drink 50 ounces of water a day.

Hope you get better really soon. Sometimes, we KNOW what we are thinking and maybe don't express ourselves precisely because of that! As a writer, I have that problem all the time! You know ALL about the Salem witchcraft trials and the history of WWII! Right?

I am not a fan of Metamucil or any kind of pill or other fiber supplement. Ironically, psyllium, the fiber in Metamucil, can cause bowel obstructions, which is the opposite of what you want. Other fiber supplements might be counterindicated when combined with certain medications for depression, diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders or heart ailments..

I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy over 15 years ago and the technician said I needed to take more fiber because she saw a few pockets of diverticulosis, which explained my bloating and constipation. She advised Metamucil, which I hated and stopped taking after the first time. I had no idea what fiber was, or what diverticulosis was, but knew that one of my aunts had a severe case of diverticulitis (when the the diverticula become inflamed/infected) and was often bedridden. She had several surgeries.

I'm a big nerd and did extensive research, and discovered that FOOD was the answer for me. I started eating a lot more soluble fiber (found concentrated in beans, oats, nuts, and berries) and insoluble fiber (concentrated in whole grains--not refined grains). In my research I also found that first world countries consume far less fiber than is necessary for good health. Too little fiber in the diet can also lead to other problems such as heart disease, strokes, obesity, diabetes.

I suggest that you add oatmeal/porridge with berries/other fruits to your breakfast, some raw cauliflower or broccoli florets for a snack, a cup of beans in whatever form for lunch (I like bean soup with veggies or maybe a baked potato topped with bean chili), air-popped popcorn for afternoon snack, and for dinner something with a curry with lentils, chickpeas or potatoes with a large side of green leafy greens salad. There are so many recipes online that can help you get more fiber in your diet.

In case you're still reading this , I can tell you that my personal experience with a high fiber diet has worked very well to heal my diverticulosis. My colonoscopy showed that my pockets had shrunk. They will never disappear (unless the section of colon is removed surgically) but as long as I keep eating fiber, they won't be a problem.